Keeping Public Parks the Public Commons
Action
Protest Against ID Card for Entry to Lalbagh and Cubbon Park Gains Strength
Queen's Statue, Cubbon park, Monday, 30th November, 2009
Large numbers turned out for protest
Many signatures were gathered on the petition
As the roadside demonstration drew to a close, Justice M.F. Saldanha (Retd.) arrived to show his support. He spoke with a small group of protestors and media reporters on the troubling nature of this proposal. Protestors gathered in front of the Queen's statue to reflect on the problem at hand, and what to do next. Protest leaders and participants gave impassioned speeches of the need to stop this heinous policy of exclusion, and work towards making parks open to all. Justice Saldanha voiced his commitment to challenge this "totally illegal" action. "This time I am with all of you. We are all together, shoulder to shoulder. We will see that nothing of this type ever happens. We will fight it back all the way." Leaders called for another protest the following Sunday at Lalbagh to continue the campaign forward.
Even as the protestors were heading back home, an email was received from the office of the Chief Minister of Karnataka directing the Commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to take appropriate action on the protestors demands. No communication has been received from Commissioner BBMP thus far, despite the Chief Minister's directions.
Please join us another protest against this ID Card business at Lalbagh West Gate, Bangalore on Sunday, 6 December at 7.30 am.
This initiative is coordinated by Lalbagh Walkers Association and is demanding the total withdrawal of the electronic ID Card proposal and entry fee into Lalbagh and Cubbon Park. Fronting a variety of new groups and networks that have joined this growing movement, the demand is that all parks and public spaces must be freely accessible to all peoples without any discrimination.
Please be there to secure your Parks for you, for now and forever.
Report prepared by Jake Carlson, Visitor to Environment Support Group.
For video reports of the protest held on Monday, visit these links on youtube: video 1 | video 2
Environment Support Group
1572, 36th Cross, Ring Road
Banashankari II Stage
Bangalore 560070
Tel: 91-80-26713559-61
Email: esg@esgindia.org
Web: www.esgindia.org
ESG is an independent not-for-profit organisation that promotes the cause of environmental and social justice through research, documentation, advocacy, training and campaign support. We aim to support the rights of local communities and voiceless ecosystems in a responsible, progressive manner that keeps contextual complexities in mind.